In collaboration with Microsoft Corp., a new outreach game was unveiled Monday (July 16) to give the public a sense of the challenge and adventure of landing in a precise location on the surface. Called "Mars Rover Landing," the game is an immersive experience for the Xbox 360 home entertainment console that allows users to take control of their own spacecraft and face the extreme challenges of landing a rover on Mars.

"Technology is making it possible for the public to participate in exploration as it never has before," Michelle Viotti, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars public engagement manager, said. "Because Mars exploration is fundamentally a shared human endeavor, we want everyone around the globe to have the most immersive experience possible."

Xbox description

How hard is it to land on Mars? Test your skills! Your mission: guide NASA's Mars rover Curiosity to its landing site safely and on target. Use your body to direct the craft and control thrusters as you descend. Gain avatar gear and achievements for a safe landing. The rover's success depends on you!